EXT NADIR - SPIRIT WORLD
Voso finishes a bandage around Makami's ribs as she drinks down some water, coming away with a disgusted look.
MAKAMI
(grossed-out)
Is this your bending water?
VOSO
No...it's my mouth-washing water.
MAKAMI
(grunting)
Voso, c'mon...
VOSO
Hey, fresh breath is useful in many situations.
He sits back as she lowers her shirt, handing him the canteen.
MAKAMI
Okay, status check.
VOSO
Well, we're low on supplies.
MAKAMI
At the lowest edge of the Spirit World with an army of very angry spirits between us and the exit.
VOSO
And our bending is gone.
MAKAMI
Not gone, there's still energy in the air, but it's mostly being drawn towards...
She takes out some of the water, spinning it through her fingers.
MAKAMI
C'mon, show us.
Voso prods at the ground.
VOSO
Good luck earth bending here...what even is this dirt?
MAKAMI
Basic elements broken down and stretched, all pulling towards that.
She points towards the black opening in the sky, where the water flies towards, breaking down into individual molecules.
VOSO
And beyond that?
MAKAMI
I don't know exactly. Raava made it very clear that it's uncharted territory humans shouldn't tread.
VOSO
Raava?
MAKAMI
Oh, yeah...let's call Raava a spiritual inheritance to keep a long story short.
VOSO
I've heard that name before...
He stands up, helping her do the same.
VOSO
In a vision - again, to keep a long story short.
MAKAMI
What else happened in this vision?
VOSO
A nine-faced rock told me to bring Raava to it. I think it has something to do with whatever Pi-Ran is now. I was...
He scratches the back of his head.
VOSO
I have the ability to bend spirits.
MAKAMI
Bend spirits? Like...purify them?
VOSO
More like read them...control them...
(quickly)
But I've never used it for anything I didn't have to.
Makami crosses her arms and waits.
VOSO
I had to use it to subdue a few guards when I was with my grandpa, then a few more when I went back to Ba-Sing-Se. Then again with Pi-Ran - but he's way more powerful than I am. I saw into his spirit, and it felt like a very old being had taken root. That's what was asking for you, er, Raava.
MAKAMI
Have you ever used this power on me?
VOSO
(quickly)
No, absolutely not!
Her expression fully relays her disbelief.
VOSO
(reluctantly)
Okay, when your life was in danger and you needed to remember how to do cool Avatar things-
She covers his mouth, but it's too late. The spirits rise above the edge behind them, drawn to the very word.
MAKAMI
Run!
They turn and stride forward just as far as they can.
VOSO
(nervously)
Where? There's nowhere else to-
The air around them rumbles harshly. In the background, the black spot in the sky rolls around a pupil of white and gold, blasting forth a ray of purple light directly towards them.
MAKAMI
(screaming)
DUCK!
She protects Voso as they both duck down, but the beam stops just at the edge of their platform. They both calmly turn up and stare at the interior - black with only hints of light throughout like gaps in a wooden wall.
VOSO
So...run?
Makami turns to see the spirits rushing closer.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Yep, still run!
They enter quickly with the amalgam of spirits crashing against an invisible barrier at the opening of the tunnel.
Both of them slow, surrounded by their spirit allies.
MAKAMI
Looks like they're stuck.
VOSO
Check this out.
He and Makami look up at the tunnel, which is lined with the very cosmos themselves. Stars, planets, and all sorts of heavenly bodies glowing soft light on their faces. She reaches up, letting her fingers play in the light as she points.
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
That's the Sky-Turtle Yeo constellation - and that's Khan the Wise!
VOSO
Isn't that the planet we saw as kids?
MAKAMI
(excitedly)
YES! It was...
She snaps her expression to sour.
MAKAMI
(grumbling)
Don't do that - you lied to me.
VOSO
I never meant to. I had no idea this sort of thing would happen.
MAKAMI
You still-
VOSO
-I should've told you, yes. I'm too used to living in the shadows.
She grabs his hand as they walk.
MAKAMI
I'm not going to be mad at you right after you flew through the Spirit World to find me.
VOSO
...but later?
MAKAMI
Good behavior from you may help me forget.
VOSO
(grumbling)
You never forget...
MAKAMI
That's why I get so much practice at forgiving.
He smiles at her, looking surprised.
MAKAMI
Was that clever?
VOSO
You know what, it was! Well done.
MAKAMI
You're on the right track, buddy boy.
CUT TO:
EXT AIR NATION CAPITAL ENTRANCE - LATE DAY
Alrund packs the trunk of their car - an awful, sputtering Gremlin-look-a-like while Abe waits in the driver's seat. Shii and Toyo walk closer with Meelo between them.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
I still don't quite understand what you hope to accomplish deeper in Earth Kingdom territory.
ALRUND
Silencing whatever has taken over Pi-Ran.
She grabs a sack of food, shoving it into Toyo's chest for him to carry.
ALRUND
He's not human anymore, so we must investigate. If he's a spirit, we'll have to find a way to get him out of Pi-Ran. If it's Pi-Ran being weird, then we need to find a way to stop that. Or, I don't know, whatever else could make this even harder for us.
SHII
More or less what she said.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
But Makami...?
ALRUND
Voso is seeking her out, and he will not fail.
She turns with another bag in hand, walking away.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
I must say, this isn't something I could ever condone as a head of state.
SHII
Luckily, we're taking a page out of Makami's book and not asking your permission. Sorry about the university.
MASTER PAYA (O.S.)
Oh, it needed a remodel anyways...
Meelo and Shii turn back to see Paya coming up with a small package and an uneven smile. The two of them both sport their bruises shyly.
MASTER PAYA
It was designed a few centuries ago by someone that didn't know the fantastic uses of concrete, so the designs can stand to have an update. Here.
He hands the parcel to Shii.
MASTER PAYA
You bend well when you take your medicine.
SHII
(chuckling)
Yes, thank you, doctor. Good luck, Masters.
Meelo and Paya both bow to Shii.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
To you as well, Shii.
MASTER PAYA
Come back after this is over. We'll break another building.
Shii smiles and walks towards the car.
MASTER PAYA
(to Meelo)
It's all set for tomorrow, Grand Master.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
(exasperated)
Thank you.
They wave once more as Abe honks the horn and drives away.
MASTER PAYA
We'll be doing what's right for our people.
GRAND MASTER MEELO
I know, but I can't help but wish them well. Maybe...I don't know, maybe they can somehow avoid this entire mess.
Master Paya looks bemused by the comment.
MASTER PAYA
We're past that, Grand Master. We must shape our own future.
CUT TO:
INT CHAKRA NEXUS - SPIRIT WORLD
Makami and Voso enter a golden chamber with nine walls filled with sparsely few of the spirit wisps seen outside. The overwhelming feature is a seven-balance scale with six along the exterior and a seventh in the center - all colored and patterned in the fashion of planets familiar to our solar system.
VOSO
(quietly)
What is all this?
MAKAMI
Some type of stop for spirits.
VOSO
Spirits - like the ones out there?
Makami juts her chin towards the scales.
MAKAMI
Spirits that have run out of energy.
Voso sees Kyoshi in the crowd, her height and head dress unmistakable. Makami gulps.
He nudges her gently.
VOSO
But for what purpose?
MAKAMI
It looks like judgement, or balance. Those scales - and the markings on the walls behind them. One for heart, one for the root...
VOSO
And the middle for mind - look.
He points to a swirl of black drawings set into the gold that come back around, resembling a loose brain.
As they wander closer, four of the spirits occupy four of the outer scales. Everything in balance, a white light absorbs them all and resets the scale.
Another set of three enter, but the scale represented by the sun rises higher than the rest. A spirit floats to it, triggering the white light to take them all.
MAKAMI
It is balance. The scale will only accept them if the spirits combine for a harmonic chakra.
VOSO
(mumbling)
Wow, high bar...
He scratches his head.
VOSO
I don't even know chakras that well, Ami. How are we supposed to get past this?
MAKAMI
What makes you think we have to?
VOSO
Well, we can't go back, for one. Plus, whatever I felt in Pi-Ran's mind is definitely beneath this chamber.
Voso leans over the edge, whistling an echo downwards.
VOSO
(mumbling)
Well, his head wasn't that empty.
Makami leans close.
MAKAMI
(mumbling)
No way down safely...
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Makami!
Raava flies out of Makami's chest, much to Voso's surprise.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Do not let Kyoshi and Kuruk's spirits go down there!
MAKAMI
How can I stop her?
VOSO
I've got it.
He takes off in a jog as their spirits drift to the scales. As they land together at the center, Voso leaps forward only to be blown back by a bellowing voice from below. Kyoshi and Kuruk disappear completely in a flash of white light from below.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(rumbling echo)
RAAVAAAAA!
Voso lands hard on the floor with Makami over in an instant, one of her hands covering one ear.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(rumbling echo)
I FEEL YOUR ENERGY IN THE AIR, RAAVAAAA!
VOSO
(shouting)
He's shaking this place apart!
MAKAMI
(shouting)
I have to go down there!
She separates from him, both of them with doubt in their eyes.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Follow me when you can!
VOSO
(shouting)
Wait, I can - WAIT!
The voice dies down just as Makami lands in the center scale, smiling reassuringly towards Voso as she disappears into white. He runs and jumps onto the closest scale, but five of them are immediately off-balance.
VOSO
(whining)
Oh come on!
CUT TO:
INT NANDAKA'S CHAMBER - SPIRIT WORLD
Makami walks from around a corner made of the same tentacles Voso saw in Pi-Ran. She looks around warily while being drawn forward.
MAKAMI
(echoing)
Hello?
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
We should not be here, Makami.
MAKAMI
We can handle it.
She lets her hand run across one of the walls. Suddenly, another hand sticks out and startles her with a grab of her wrist.
MAKAMI
(jumping)
HOLY OH NO!
She catches herself and pulls aside some of the tentacles, seeing an unconscious person - one of the scientists from the Earth Kingdom.
MAKAMI
That's one of the people that attacked us in the prison. I recognize that pin.
Other hands reach towards her from the left and right walls. She pushes aside more tentacles, seeing more people with the hands following her.
MAKAMI
These are the scientists - all of them.
When she moves aside more tentacles, her eyes widen.
CUT TO:
INT CHAKRA NEXUS - SPIRIT WORLD
Voso lands in the center scale with a self-satisfied look.
VOSO
(shouting)
Going down!
The other six scales all rise.
VOSO
(grunting)
C'mon - can't you others step on?
The spirits won't budge.
VOSO
(mumbling)
What am I doing wrong?
He looks up at the drawings on the wall again.
VOSO
I'm clearly not much of a crown, temple, or root guy...wait. Pi-Ran said my heart chakra was...
His eyes jump to the empty heart scale.
VOSO
Here goes heart!
He jumps and lands on the metal with three others rising. Torn spirits move to cover the difference on each of them.
VOSO
(excitedly)
Yes! Chakra puzzle-!
He and the others disappear into the white light.
INT NANDAKA'S CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
Voso appears with his hands still in the air.
VOSO
(excitedly)
Solved!
The echo is harsh as he recognizes his surroundings.
MAKAMI (O.S.)
(echoing)
Voso?
VOSO
(echoing)
Yeah, I made it!
MAKAMI (O.S.)
(echoing)
Come here, quick.
He breaks into a run, swinging around writhing corners while watching his footing. Finally, he skids around another corner to see Makami, him with a confident smirk.
VOSO
(overly-confident)
Record-breaking time, I know.
MAKAMI
Look at this.
He recoils at the sight of the scientists, all now lain out on the ground in a line. Their skin is pale in the eerie light.
VOSO
This...how are they here?
MAKAMI
And him.
Voso comes close to her, staring down at Pi-Ran's unconscious face. She rotates his head left and right.
VOSO
What are you looking for?
MAKAMI
Bruises, cuts - anything from our fight, but there's nothing. This isn't the Pi-Ran I fought with.
VOSO
These are all the people I was tasked to bring back to the Fire Nation. I met and fought with some of them - some of them kidnapped me! What are we into here, Ami?
MAKAMI
(softly)
I don't know yet.
VOSO
(softly)
And for the record, this is the exact same chamber I saw in Pi-Ran's spirit. This is the heart of it all.
MAKAMI
Why these scientists? What made them so special?
VOSO
The bomb?
MAKAMI
Was there anything else they were working on?
VOSO
A nation-ending bomb isn't enough?
MAKAMI
I don't see why a spirit would care about that kind of project.
VOSO
Well, the list of questions adds another candidate!
She stands, remaining calm.
MAKAMI
I found them in the walls. They were reaching for me unconsciously. Like a plant towards the sun.
VOSO
We're getting them all out of here. Somehow.
A sudden vortex pulls them and the unconscious scientists further into the chamber. Makami and Voso tumble, snatching at one another's hand to stay oriented.
Finally, they come to a wider nexus and bump into the soft ground.
VOSO
You okay?
Makami pulls away with wide eyes.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
The scientists!
They both stand quickly, jumping and catching each of the bodies that fly, setting them down safely, and resetting for the next one. Eventually, all of them lay safely at their feet.
Voso and Makami tiredly high-five each other.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(deep echo)
Welcome, Raava.
The two turn around and stand straight into NANDAKA'S (Ageless) rotating form. Each of the faces look exactly as they did before, glowing with kaleidoscopic colors. The face of a man with large cheeks is where the rotation stops, the wide-open eyes and mouth emitting a pale yellow light.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(feminine echo)
You have finally returned. We can begin at last.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Begin what?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
The reaping of the human world.
Makami and Voso look terrified under this new weight.